International HIV/AIDS Day 2022: India Against HIV

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Every year on December 1, people all over the world observe World HIV/AIDS Day. It is observed to honour AIDS patients and to show support for those who are HIV-positive.

The first international health day was established in 1988 as World AIDS Day. The goal of this day is to inspire people to band together globally in order to close any gaps and inequities that prevent HIV testing, prevention, and access to care.

Every year, UN-affiliated organisations, governments, and civil society organisations join forces to promote campaigns that focus on specific HIV-related issues. Therefore, understanding the significance of this day and the year’s theme is crucial.

The Origin of World AIDS Day

The first World AIDS Day was observed in 1987. This day is observed to encourage communication about HIV/AIDS between local and state governments, international organisations, and private citizens.

James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, developed it.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has been in charge of planning and promoting it since 1996. The following day, December 1, 2017, President Donald Trump proclaimed it to be World Aids Day.

Importance Of World AIDS Day

By the end of 2021, there were about 38.4 million HIV-positive individuals worldwide, 25.6 million of whom reside in the WHO African Region.

Over 4,139 people in the UK receive an HIV diagnosis each year, and stigma and discrimination are still commonplace for many of those who live with the illness.

World AIDS Day is significant because it serves as a reminder to both the general public and the government that the issue is a serious one that calls for immediate funding, education, eradication of prejudice, and enhancement of educational opportunities.

Theme OF World AIDS Day 2022

This year’s World AIDS Day theme is “Equalize,” which has been chosen. According to UNAIDS, this means that everyone should work to end the injustices that are obstructing the effort to end AIDS. This year’s theme is the most recent in a long line of problems.

Response Of Government On HIV/AIDS

First Phase

The National AIDS Control Program (NACP), which is now the Department of AIDS under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was established by the Government of India shortly after the first AIDS case was reported in 1986.

The NACP’s purview was widened in 1991 to include blood safety, high-risk population prevention, public awareness campaigns, and improved surveillance.

The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), a semi-autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was created to carry out this programme. The National AIDS Control Program’s “first phase” ran from 1992 to 1999.

Second Phase

The NACP’s second phase, which commenced in 1999, ended in March 2006. India kept expanding the programme at the state level during this phase.

A greater emphasis was placed on preventive interventions among the general population, targeted interventions for the populations most at risk, and participation of NGOs and other sectors and line departments, including education, transportation, and law enforcement.

Third Phase

Targeted interventions have been dramatically scaled up in the Third Phase of NACP (NACP 3) programme in order to achieve very high coverage of the most at-risk groups. Surveillance and strategic information management also benefit greatly from this phase.

The program’s implementation placed a high priority on partnerships with civil society organizations, with a particular emphasis on community participation in programme planning and execution.

Actions By NGOs and CBOs (non-governmental and community-based organisations):

At the local, state, and federal levels, India is home to a sizable number of NGOs and CBOs that are involved in HIV/AIDS issues.

Projects include care for children left orphaned by AIDS, general awareness campaigns, targeted interventions with key populations, and direct care for HIV-positive individuals.

The federal or state governments of India, foreign donors, as well as local donations, are some of the sources of funding for non-governmental and community-based organisations.

A number of CBOs have tested cutting-edge strategies to combat stigma and discrimination that prevent populations most at risk from accessing effective HIV prevention, treatment, and care services.

Lack Of Awareness For HIV/AIDS

Despite the fact that the disease is more common in men, Indian men are more likely than women to have thorough knowledge of HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

Comprehensive knowledge is defined by the National Family Health Survey of 2015–16 (NFHS–4) as knowing how to consistently use a condom during every sexual encounter.

According to the survey, only 32% of men and 21% of women nationwide have a thorough understanding of HIV/AIDS.

  1. The survey’s main findings included the following:
  2. Using a condom during every sexual encounter is mandatory
  3. Mutually exclusive relationships with one partner can lower one’s risk of contracting HIV/AIDS
  4. A healthy-looking person can have the disease
  5. Indians must reject widespread myths about HIV/AIDS transmission or prevention.
  6. Sharing food, cutlery, and clothes causes the spread of AIDS

What Do Numbers Indicate?

In 31 of the 35 states and union territories (UTs) surveyed, men are more likely than women to demonstrate thorough knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Women are more aware only in Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Puducherry, and Daman & Diu.

Punjab has the highest percentage of women who are fully informed about HIV/AIDS among all states, at 49%. 9.4% in Assam and 9.3% in Dadra & Nagar Haveli have the lowest rates.

How does HIV/AIDS transfer?

  1. Sexual contact with an infected person is generally thought to be the most common method of HIV transmission.
  2. Syringes or needles: The infection can spread through blood that has been exposed to an HIV infection. HIV can be spread through accepting blood products, blood transfusions, or organ/tissue transplants.
  3. Transmission from mother to foetus: An HIV-positive pregnant woman can pass the virus to her unborn child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
  4. Sharing bathrooms, shaking hands, sharing dishes, and other similar activities do not transmit HIV/AIDS. additionally, by mosquitoes, ticks, or other bloodsucking vermin.

Conclusion

A 100% financed programme is available from the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) is a national initiative to reduce new infections by up to 50% and provide comprehensive support and treatment for HIV/AIDS.

It is run by the District AIDS Prevention and Control Units (DAPCUS) and State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) in the country. Also, It is our duty as citizens to help the government in fighting HIV/AIDS only by not believing in myths.

Once we change our perspective about this traumatising disease, it will be a great help to those who are fighting AIDS. Many are fighting AIDS and society both at the same time.